KP: I may quit next week

KEVIN PIETERSEN last night threatened to quit Test cricket after his
relationship with England plunged to an all-time low.

The batsman spoke of his anger at the England management for leaking details
of private meetings — and said next week’s Third Test against South Africa
could be his last.

Pietersen also hinted at tension between him and other PLAYERS in the
team.

After his astonishing outburst, coach Andy Flower, captain Andrew Strauss and
the selectors might feel they cannot even pick Pietersen for the Lord’s
match which starts next Thursday.

There was also a self-pity in Pietersen’s comments as he claimed: “Being me in
this dressing room and playing for England is tough.”

KP wants to continue playing five-day cricket — he has already quit
limited-overs matches — but might now be beyond the point of no return.

Last month, he asked the ECB to miss the first two Tests of next summer
against New Zealand to play a full Indian Premier League.

Details of that meeting became public knowledge.

The England hierarchy also rejected his demand to quit 50-over cricket and
continue playing Twenty20, forcing him to retire from all one-dayers.

Pietersen, 32, said: “I can’t rule out the next Test being my last but I won’t
elaborate during the series.

“You can ask me 100 times but I won’t tell you until the end of the Lord’s
Test.

“I’m trying to have talks. Playing in the IPL, the World T20 and spending more
time at home are three points but not main points.

“There are others that I’m trying to sort out in the dressing room. This is
100 per cent not about money.

“It would be a huge shame if this is my last Test. I love playing Tests for
England.

“The saddest part about all this is that the spectators love watching me play
but the politics I have to deal with personally are tough.

“Pre the Test, it was me grabbing headlines. Did I leak anything? I never
spoke to the media for a second. But it was me being made to look the bad
guy. I thought it was a meeting behind closed doors.”

Strauss said: “I don’t want to comment on what Kevin might have said. But one
thing I would say is that the team spirit and unity over the last three
years has been superb.”

Pietersen overshadowed what was, for a while, a gripping final day of the
Second Test.

Strauss shuffled his batting order and ordered his men to try to chase down a
big target as they tried to retain their No 1 status, before the Headingley
match ended in a draw.

They must now win at Lord’s to remain top of the pile.

Stuart Broad produced a five-wicket burst and then Graeme Smith declared to
set England 253 to win in 39 overs.

Pietersen opened England’s innings and they kept pursuing the target until
wicketkeeper Matt Prior was run out to leave the total 106-4.

Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell shut up shop until the players shook hands with
six overs left.